The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-16
HONEST JOIN lMPUGIED.
SENT By THE GRAND JURY 10
KEEP HR. MADDEN COMPANY.
History Of the Transaction FOR
which the Indictment Was
Returned.

II became noissd abroad through
the city early tterday morning, that
Dol. John E. Rsndle, who has been .
Of the Board Of Public Works
since August 7, 1884, was doomed TO
Indictment as felon by the grand
Jury. That the report, though vague,
was well founded, became apparent
when the thirteen inquisitors re-
turned the result OF their days lsbors
into the Criminal Court, shortly be-
fore o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Among true bills against various par.
ties for sundry ofienses, was one
against the genial, whole soulsd and
universally popular colonel, with |
allegations az follows. That |
on the first OF December, |
1888, ]. Z. Randle did unlswfully
and ielopiously, being Q member Of
the Board OF Public Works OF the Tax.
Ing District Of Shelby county, duly
elected, qualified and acting ss.such,
and q such being prohibited by law
from makiog or becoming Interested
In any contract, directly or Indirectly
made with or In behalf Of said Taxing
District, became interested In Q GER
tain contract BY which he agreed to
furnish and did furnish, 10 said Tax.
ing District, for the sum Of $1,000, or
thsrt abouts, certain iron castings or
plstes 10 be used on the culverts and
street crossings In said Taxing Dis
tict, and did after the making Of said
contract, transfer the same TO one
Thomas Wexford, In payment OF Q
debt, and caused the work to be
done and castings on aforesaid
TO be furnished In the name Of said
Thomas Wexford, and the money to be
paid therefor to him by said Taxing
District. And the said ]. A. Randle
violated his oath OF office and his duty
% q member OF the said Board OF
Public Works OF said Taxing District,
and ieloniously became and was inter-
Gated In said contract, involving an
expenditure Of $1,000 or about that
sum, made with and In behalf OF said
Taxing District, whereby said sum OF
money was paid 10 said Thomas We'll
ford for him as aforesaid, and the said
John L Rapdle Their, by received and
got the benefit OF taid money a. aiore-
said against the peace and dignity OF
". State. The witnesses on whose
testimony the bill WIS returned were
Michael Larkin, Niles Nsriwether,
and Thomas Wexford.
The "ielon" appeared In court about
3 O'Clock pm, with his attorney, Col.
l.. b. Mcfarland, and was released on
a bail bond Of $4,000, with Judge X.
]. Morgan and Col. Mcfarland M
eureties. This was done by Judge Du.
Bose while of the bench, and he fur.
thermore stated 10 Col. Randle's
counsel that he would reduce the
amount Of bail II they 90 desired. 1--WE
would as soon let II stand there, or
even higher" replied the lawyer, "As
ct $1,000. Thus Il WAS arranged, and
Col. Randle left the room. OF course
he bad nothing 10 say, except that he
was innocent, for the simple reason
that the Taxing District records could
show the real facts. To them the re-
porter went, with the following 70
suits, explained by gentlemen In q 20.
sition 70 know;
Al the corner Of Third and Wash.
ington streets there are two culverts
through which the water passes sitter
. heavy rain, and for other surface
drainage. The sides are stone, and
cast Iron covers we're necessary 10 com.
plete them. The contract belonged 10
Mr.. Michael Larkip, and after the
stone siding was completed Il became
q question with him where 10 obtain
the plates. He knew the Ohichasaw
Iron Works, belonging 10 Mr.. Randle,
possessed the only pattern In the city,
and he supposed he could not get them
from him on account Of his connection
with the city government. He went
10 the Livermore Foundry, and there
they could not be secured. Mai. Niles
Meriwether, city engineer. went 10 Mr..
Randle Tor the plates, and was met with
O positive refusal. Mr.. Larkin then,
an an independent contractor, On.
tered into q contract with the Chick.
ssaw Works for the iron plates,
and the order, amounting 10 some
thing like $1,000, was filed. Before
the bill was paid, NJ. Wexford waited
upon Mr.. Rsndle for debt due him,
amounting 10 $1,000. The debtor ex.
planned that he was not In q position
10 llquidate the bill Just at that time,
and stated that be would turn ovsr 10
Mr.. Wexford the Laikin account.
This WAS satisfactory, In furtherance
OF which Mr.. Lafkin was informed Of
the arrangement and cheeriully con.
scented when the contractor had I'm.
ished his work, and went 10 City En-.
gineer Meriwether for s.voucher. That
official, In filling out the paper, asked
Mr.. Larkin some question which
brought 10 mind the agreement with
Mr.. Randle In reference 10 the Wei.
ford account. He then instructed Mr..
Meriwether 10 insert the name OF
Wexford instead OF Randle, the par.
TALLY allied paper was destroyed and
another made out In the manner sug
eested.
This 10 q brief history OF the trans.
action In detail, and Il Ia impossible
10 see whore Mr.. Randall had any
connivance With city contracts While
Mr.. LArkin was engaged on city con.
tract, he was by no means q city
Official, and II was therefore merely
an arrangement between private ciu.
rams for the liquidation Of Q private
debt As stated above, Mr.. Randle
positively refused 10 al the order com.
Ina from Maj Meriwether, thus chow.
Ing that he fully appreciated his Of.
fetal oath, and maintained q strict 70.
gard for official and private integrity.
The Grand Jury returning the bill 10 q
representative one, but human and
liable 10 err. From the history Of the
case, and the witnesses on whose tee.
umony II Was found, II certainly ap.
pears 10 be strain and alp Of imagin
alton. The date OF trial has not been